Mark Ballas and Pia Toscano

A week after Playboy founder Hugh Hefnerannounced on twitter that Karina Smirnoffhad posed nude for the May issue of the mag, many are still surprised and wondering why she made that choice.

Well, the Dancing With The Stars pro is explaining just that via excerpts from her interview with Playboy. “I’m fearless and love the adrenaline rush,” Karina, 32, tells the mag. “Sexy is the confident energy a person produces. Sexy is the comfortable feeling of being who you are.”

PEOPLE also reports that the higher ups at DWTS are not upset with Karina for posing nude. “They did know ahead of time and they still gave her one of the best pairings,” reveals a source.

According to the site, the two went on a first date on Friday night. As for how the date came about, TMZ states it all started with Pia who developed a crush on Mark as they both shoot their respective shows on the CBS Television City lot in L.A.

Pia apparently had her eye on Mark for weeks and decided to give her friend a piece of paper with her number on it. That friend handed it to DWTS contestant Chris Jericho, who then passed it on to Mark.

Mark was said to have been more than receptive and even rescheduled a music video shoot so he could go on their date on Friday. The two are said to be smitten and plan to do it all again soon. A photo of Mark and Pia after their date is below!

Pia seems to be having a pretty good week as it was also reported she scored herself a record deal less than 24 hours after her Idol elimination.